The San Diego Padres scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of Colorado Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes and that was all the offense they would need to get a 3-1 win at Petco Park on Wednesday. The win gave the Padres a two-game sweep of the Rockies and extended their current winning streak to five games.
San Diego got to Hughes in the bottom of the fourth after back-to-back singles by Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado. Ty France was then hit by a pitch on his left elbow and that loaded
the bases for Jackson Merrill. The center fielder stepped to the plate and put a ground ball through the infield to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. Luis Rengifo grounded out to the right side for the first out of the inning, but that allowed the second run to score to put San Diego ahead, 2-0. Gavin Sheets followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home France and the Padres went ahead 3-0 and Merrill advanced to third base. Xander Bogaerts flied out to end the inning.
San Diego had three of its six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning and made them count. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the game for the Padres with a double to left field, but was stranded there after a ground out, strikeout and a fly out. San Diego went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position on the day and left four runners on base.
The Padres pitching staff made the runs hold up. Kyle Hart started the game and went 2.2 innings allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts before giving way to Griffin Canning. The right-hander came into the game and had an impressive performance. Canning went three scoreless allowing just one hit and recorded four strikeouts. Wandy Peralta got touched up for a run in the top of the seventh inning. He allowed back-to-back singles and then got Mickey Moniak to pop out to third base for the first out of the frame. Peralta was replaced by Bradgley Rodriguez who got a strikeout but then allowed an RBI-single to former Padre Brett Sullivan, which made the score, 3-1. Rodriguez then got Jake McCarthy to flyout to end the inning.
Adrian Morejon threw a ton of pitches in his inning of work on Tuesday, so he was unavailable to work the eighth inning on Wednesday. Jeremiah Estrada, who was activated from the IL prior to the game, made his return to the mound and allowed a leadoff walk to start the top of the eighth. Estrada then recorded three consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. Mason Miller came on for the top of the ninth and recorded two strikeouts and a lineout on 15 pitches to end the game and earn his 28th save of the season.
San Diego gets back on the field tonight when the San Francisco Giants come to Petco Park tonight for the first game of a four-game set at 6:40 p.m.
Padres News:
- Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides the latest updates on the San Diego farm system complete with performances and moves that were made throughout the organization.
- The biggest piece of news to come out of the Padres’ farm system was that catcher Ethan Salas was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A to join the El Paso Chihuahuas. He proceeded to record three hits in his Triple-A debut.
- San Diego had a busy week finishing a 10-game road trip and returning home to take on Colorado for a quick two-game series. In that time the Padres were also able to sign 29 players after the MLB Draft, which included their top draft pick Coleman Borthwick.
- Pitcher Matt Waldron was designated for assignment to make room for Estrada when he returned from the IL.
- Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has seen enough after the Padres’ five-game win streak and believes the team will be buyers at the trade deadline. Has the team done enough to convince the Friar Faithful, some of which were ready to sell at the deadline, to agree?
- Several Padres players could be attractive to teams at the deadline, but they may not be available after the recent five-game win streak which has pulled San Diego within 1.5 games of the third Wild Card spot. For those players whose names have been linked to the rumors they understand it comes with the job.
Baseball News:
- The Texas Rangers linked up with the Los Angeles Angels for an AL West trade that sent catcher Logan O’Hoppe and Chase Silseth to the Rangers for minor-leaguer Angel Arredondo.
- Ivan Herrera came through with a walk-off hit to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs.
- The Baltimore Orioles mounted a massive comeback to beat the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal recorded his 1,000th strikeout of his career in what could have been his final start with Detroit.
- Edwin Diaz returned for the Los Angeles Dodgers and locked down their 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.
- The Toronto Blue Jays knocked off the Washington Nationals, 5-2.
- The San Francisco Giants dominated the Milwaukee Brewers in a 16-3 win.
- The Miami Marlins bounced back in a big way after their sweep at the hands of the Padres with a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Eduardo Rodriguez led the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
